Combination of Component Fault Trees and Markov Chains to Analyze Complex, Software-Controlled Systems

Abstract

Fault Tree analysis is a widely used failure analysis methodology to assess a system in terms of safety or reliability in many industrial application domains. However, with Fault Tree methodology there is no possibility to express a temporal sequence of events or state-dependent behavior of softwarecontrolled systems. In contrast to this, Markov Chains are a state-based analysis technique based on a stochastic model. But the use of Markov Chains for failure analysis of complex safetycritical systems is limited due to exponential explosion of the size of the model. In this paper, we present a concept to integrate Markov Chains in Component Fault Tree models. Based on a component concept for Markov Chains, which enables the association of Markov Chains to system development elements such as components, complex or software-controlled systems can be analyzed w.r.t. safety or reliability in a modular and compositional way. We illustrate this approach using a case study from the automotive domain.

A Hierarchical Approach for Dynamic Fault Trees Solution Through Semi-Markov Process

“…where the  operation is defined by (9). In other words this is a probabilistic OR algebraic operation.…”

“…This paper has two main individual motivations; I) Proposing a hierarchical approach that can approximately evaluate the reliability of DFTs based on SMP theorem and without state explosion, and II) Introducing a universal five-state SMP in which different static and dynamic gates can be defined at once. In addition, thanks to the SMP theory dealing with nonexponential failure distributions and complex basic events [7,8,9] can be considered as a secondary objective of the paper.…”

An analytical approach for optimization of computer network design considering the integration of the communication and power infrastructures

“…In the last few years, a number of research works 1,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] have been proposed for system infrastructure planning (e.g., telecommunication, data centers and power). Initially, Sauve et al 1 proposes a design approach that is related to the following areas: BDIM, infrastructure design and SLA design.…”

“…This technique is based on GRASP meta heuristic. Zeller and Montrone 17 present a new concept to integrate Markov Chains in Component Fault Tree models, based on a new component concept for the Markov Chain (CMC). Complex or software‐controlled systems can be analyzed in a modular and compositional way.…”